New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-24
POOR LASS I!

s,orifal wellknit young fellow was "aisihg
rr enc Of the little gravel paths thao 'cao rom
the sweep Of the carriage drive, oo."c.n u,,
sn,,re grass plots, to the patients VISITORS
- - in the side of the long central corridor,
wv h,oyinc September afternoon His molesiun
.,orsers and corduroy waistcoat made win
,oycs and faced with dark brown VelVetcen
onen below the top button, over q blue guernsey
Taae ono at once feel sure that neither horses
nor boats were totally unfamiliar to him. ana
III, ~, ,bo sealskin cap which he took OIL ana
ina in his great hands as he reached the door,
u,onld LET anyone who has ever walked on .ne
towine path OF canal into the secret OIL MS
apparently double occupation
John Ibrupp was bargee and fine strapplng
,o,ng fellow an easy six feet in his blue worsted
lis deep In the chest and with not an ounce
Of superfluous fat anywhere.
II his brow was low, with the hair that fell
over il coarse AMI tan-colored,. 1T was broad ana
,astood upright, and the eyes under IL We're
roj honest blue ones. The c'eanshaved Fps
met firmly over two rows of strong white teeti,
IN a law heavy but not brutal. No one couid
ali John Ihrupp lout il he was a bargee );
and though he stopped little from she shouioers'
n wasn't the outcome OF siOucny NATURE IN "o
man, but simply because he could ana olo Al
recessary. drag by a rope over his shouider'
heavy numbering barge that would puzzlc many
an un,ipbt Guardsman to stir. So far from being
. liant Jobn Thrupp had two at least OF the IN
d;spepsoblc attributes of gentleman. lie was u
man Of his word. and he had love OF cieahil
sss-inside and out That he paid his way-ii
aly along the towing path of canal-and
workel as hard as he had strength for were' L
sb;uk. two other very gentlemanly habits put
,nopy folk may think that L am quloe wrong
ahcut this and rs / want only to tell you pam
,sls. we won't go into so disputed a subject any
sur,her Mind you. l do not believe tnat All
farcees are honest. or even cieah' uon i~
hut this particular bargee was.
n. loved his cold plunge in the Broads AT
aaylipht told the truth as unvaryingV' anu en-
laval n clean shave as keenly as any gentleman
stroke in q Varsity light. :.
Well This bargee turned shade paier' III
.,ito NJ his six feet and broad shoulders as ne
caught sight of the rows of white beds win .ne
rdiaeketed little forms in them, In the waros
on either side Of the path. lie molsVheo no
Inns and swallowed a little nervously' as nc runs
"a bell beside the open doorway that st'ift,cu nin,
Inv changing Just over his head. A brisR VOICE
said: ,.;u ca
aCome in: come straight on and doing so
,,o,,n foind himself, after passing through a
smsl, receiving room. in the long siate pave"
corridor with its fifty pale windows, anu uoucio
sets Of glass doors opening INTO tne ,ons intar.
inc payiIion wards. The corridor looked ineer'
r,;,ahJe and the shafts Of sunlight. slantihg
tb,oucb the high windows on the rlght seeleo
N cut its great length into diagonal strips:
Two doctors, in loose jackets and with pare
heads. were standing at the far end talking ou'
little dazed and at loss how TO pro1eed-
The some brisk voice, now close behind him.
remarked:
sWelll' and paused.
John turned and saw a blue-sowneo' whi~-
aproned figure in high white cap si,''ns un
rp,;shod bench against the dark Withholding
for all the world like o blue and white china
tilo soft nm against dark oak shelf The nurse
for il was q nurse--or at least Propauohcr
land not tile had pencil and book In her
hands; and without looking up went on rapluiy
AWho to see ?? How many? Only yoursch
No infection of any sort at home, / hope; whom
did you sayi" glancing at last up at poor JOIN
puzzled face with her pencil ready to put Cross
against the patient he should ask for .,
"A little girl; at least young girl saio
John Nancy Battsen.' adding little I'M
steadily, "she was hurt-here. touching his own
broad chest. - a.,
sHayward Ward-in the Special replied the
nurse getting up and standing by John. to point
up the corridor go straight up TO the statue
and turn into the glass doors to the lett uhoer
the lantern In the roof :,
"Tbank YOU. ma'amn said John. going as d.
rccted and then turned hesitatingly to her.
and said "How is she. miss please 2?
But the nurse did not know. She said she
was "over on the other side in Liebert, but tha1
the Sister in Hayward would tell him.
Poor John did not understand at all what
She meant but he thanked her and walked up
side to side in his anxiety to prevent his greao
pailsl boots making such an embarrassing noise
Like ali who are unaccustomed to life In
hospital, John thought every sound. even OUT
tlere in the corridor. must waken some
Door soul He looked at the two
trim nurses who passed him higher
up quite reproachfully for actually Laughing
and chattering so close to his poor little GIRL
who had been so nearly killed.
A sickening expectation and almost terror
made Johns hands cold and his eyes burn as nc
turned into the first glass doors and found him.
self In a shorter corridor, with linen cupboards
and bright little ward kitchen on one side
IN front long vista Of polished boards. rows OF
beds and white covered tables. The AFTERNOON
sun streamed in and touched the shining Jugs, and
glass jars and punches Of flowers, and the white
capped head of a nurse. who was bending over
The nearest table, on which huge pewter INK
stand literally glistened, 1t had been so perse-
yeringly FURNISHED
The closed door on his left opened and the
Sister q tall thin woman in dark green serge
gown and variation Of the prevailing white cap
on her white hair. came out saying to the unseen
occupant of tho little eigbtsided room within,
Isl don't think there is anyone coming to see
you, dear 1t is nearly q, when the visitors
go--unlcss." she said, facing John, "this is your
brother. Have you come TO see Nancy Battsen,
young mani" she added
-Yes ma am said John and the Sister stood
on one side and pushed open the door, and said:
t.IIere's this brother Of ours at last She turned
% John, and added ut is Just as well you didn't
come earlier. She mustn't talk much nor move
6ou talk to her, and stepped swiftly across the
slate-pavcd passage toward the ward but paused
as John. who stood in the doorway, looking at
the little dark head on the pillow, in an agony
Of awkwardness after moment said
"She, Nancy isn't my sister. maam. She's
naught to me. At least she's-my sweetheart!
had to come, as her fathers had to go on with
Tho boat
"Very we'll, said the sister smiling. and dis
appearing.
-swcethearts' were rare visitors, Us this was
Chiidren's Hospital.
Nancy was really two and a half years over
she age limit
John creaked carefully over tho floor and sat
down on the chair beside Nancys bed and said
We'll, Nancy In q voice so husky one might
nave thought he was a man Of feeling and not
In -